Junior Chris Olave was the lone Ohio State wide receiver, and one of 55 receivers in the country, to be named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list.
According to the release, “the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football’s outstanding receiver, not merely college football’s outstanding wide receiver.
“Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award.”
With that in mind, Olave was joined by Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth, as well as Indiana wide receiver Whop Philyor, Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman, Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins and Purdue wide receivers David Bell and Rondale Moore as the eight Big Ten members of the watch list.
In his true sophomore season, Olave finished with 49 catches for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns, with the yardage and scores finishing as team highs. His reception total was second only to K.J. Hill (57 catches), and his 17.3 yards per catch was surpassed only by freshman wide receiver Jameson Williams, who had six catches for 112 yards (18.7 yards per catch).
A potential omission from the list is sophomore wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who finished his first collegiate season with 30 catches for 432 yards and five touchdowns.
Last year’s winner of the award was LSU wide receiver JaMarr Chase, who finished the 2019 season with 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. Chase did that in just his true sophomore season, and he returns in 2020 as a member of this year’s watch list.
To view the full list of watch list members at the press release, click here.
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